Kraft Celebration Tour Results Out Tonight

The votes have been counted, but it won't be until later this afternoon before we know if Fort Frances was victorious in the Kraft Celebration Tour contest.

Hundreds of residents across the district were on computers Friday and Saturday morning giving their support to the Fort Frances Curling Club.

Club member Patrick Bruyere says its now a waiting game, but appreciates all of the support that was given to the club.


Club members will be at Boston Pizza to watch TSN Sportscentre at 5 p.m. for the announcement.

Draft E.A. Out For Rainy River Resources

A draft of the environmental assessment report for Rainy River Resource's proposed gold mine north of Barwick is now out for public comment.

The documents outlines key environmental and social issues and how the company will address them.

Vice president Kyle Stanfield says there is nothing that will dramatically impact on plans to begin construction late next year.

The mine proposes to mine 20-thousand tonnes per day with processing done on site.

The company will hold a public meeting next week in Barwick as part of the public input gathering process.

Bass Tournament This Week

This is tournament week in Fort Frances.

Set up of the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championship is underway with actual fishing starting Thursday.

Chair Gord Watson says its great to be back at the Sorting Gap Marina after staging the event indoors at the Memorial Sports Centre for the past three season.

Fort France Curling Club and the Fort France Chamber of Commerce have joined in to help stage some of the entertainment.

A comedy night Thursday will help generate money for the Club.

Quest For The Best will be held Friday.

So far about 90 teams are entered.

Question Of The Week

Will you be taking in the Fort Frances Canadian Bass Championships?

Let us know on our website 931theborder.ca.

Last week, 56 per cent of respondents indicated they would be missing the KidsPro fishing tournament and Parade of Boats, not part of the event this year.
this year?

Daycare Complaints Reviewed

Ontario's Education Minister says nine complaints about unlicensed daycares went unanswered last year.

Complaints are supposed to be acted up with a visit to the daycare within five business days.

The ministry is reviewing complaints after the death of a two-year-old girl at a daycare in the Toronto area.

The ministry received 280 complaints last year.

New Forest Fire In Fort Frances Area

Six new forest fires were reported in northwestern Ontario from Friday to Sunday.

One of them was a lightning-caused blaze Friday in the area of Windy Point on Rainy Lake.

It was extinguished the same day.

Humanitarian Scholarship Created

A graduating Fort Frances student is giving back to his high school.

Dexter Fichuk is developing a humanitarian travel scholarship allowing students to visit underdeveloped countries in Africa.


Fichuk hopes the scholarship will lead to more young people becoming more interested and involved in humanitarian efforts.

Paddlers Reach Rainy River District

A group of paddlers are making their way through the Rainy River district.

Paddle Across Canada is raising money for three charities that promote outdoor education.

Team member Peter Vooys says outdoor education helps connect children back with nature.

The group started its travels in May leaving Rocky Mountain House and will end their journey in Lachine, Quebec in September.

They arrived in Fort Frances Friday.

Kraft Celebration Vote Today

It's voting day.

Fort Frances Curling Club is seeking your support in a bid to host a leg of the Kraft Celebration Tour next month.

Mayor Roy Avis, who's a lifetime club member, says a victory over Dryden would be a boost to the entire community.

Avis credits the Club for its efforts in trying to rally the area around the initiative.

Avis says he called Dryden's Mayor Craig Nuttall to wish his community well, but is predicting a strong win for Fort Frances.

The on-line vote begins at 11 a.m. this morning, ending tomorrow at 11 a.m.

TSN's Jennifer Hedger, who will be part of the tour with Darren Dutchyshen, says it's easy to do by logging on to www.kraftcelebrationtour.ca and voting as often as you can for Fort Frances.

The vote is open to anyone of any age and residents of United States and other countries are eligible to vote as well.



Those without computers can visit a variety of locations around Fort Frances to cast their votes.

Fort Frances Curling Club is opening up its club during the duration of the vote and will host a BBQ  beginning at 4 p.m.


Other voting locations are being set up at Boston Pizza, La Place Rendez Vous, Fort Frances Chamber of Commerce, Fort Frances Library, McDonalds, Fort Frances Museum, NCDS, Lowrey's, From the Grind Up and Wilson's Business Solutions.

Log onto www.kraftcelebrationtour.ca, or follow the links through the Club's website or our own website 931theborder.ca.

The Go Local office in Fort Frances and Rainy River Future Development Corporation, are among those getting into the spirit

They're pledging to gain at least 10-thousand votes for Fort Frances.

The Go Local office is staying open late tonight for those without a computer and opening tomorrow from 8 to 11.

High school students can also earn volunteer hours by manning computers.


Call 274-9621 in advance to ensure space is available.

A win comes with a 25-thousand dollar cheque.

Curling Club president Ron Silver says it would help pay off the cost of a geothermal energy system installed last fall.

Silver says the system, costing in excess of a million dollars, has already helped save the club more than $26-thousand in energy costs in its first year.

Silver says when the system is fully paid off in about eight to ten years, the savings will go back into club  programs and keeping costs down for members.

Several Agencies Involved In Drug Bust

A Fort Frances man faces several charges following an investigation by several agencies including OPP, Health Canada, Kenora-Rainy River District Child and Family Services and the town of Fort Frances.

A police search of a home on the 11-hundred block of Kings Highway last Friday led to the discovery of  several drugs include morphine, oxycocet, fentanyl, methadone, cannabis resin and several marihuana plants.

Police also seized 12 firearms.

39-year-old Jeremy Johnson makes a court appearance August 26.

Youth Charged In Emo Drug Investigation

A male youth is now facing drug charges after OPP executed a search warrant on a parcel of property in the Emo area last month.

Twenty-one marijuana plants from three separate grow operations were discovered.

Police also seized marijuana stems, hash oil and firearms from a home.

The youth will appear in court August 26.

Fort Frances Pair Face Drug Charges

Two Fort Frances residents will be in court next month after OPP discovered a quantity of marijuana, cannabis resin, marijuana shake, drug paraphernalia and cash inside a home on Fourth Street West in Fort Frances.

The 49-year-old woman and 49-year-old man both face possession and trafficking charges.

AFN Responds To Nutritional Experiments

Canada's largest aboriginal group wants financial compensation for aboriginals who were the subject of nutritional experiments.

The  Assembly of First Nations approved a resolution at its annual meeting in Whitehorse.

It calls on the Harper government to apologize and make restitution to those affected by the experiments conducted during the 1940's.

Woman Charged in Onigaming F.N. Man's Death

A 24-year-old woman from Naicatchewenin First Nation is facing a charge of second degree murder.

The charge against Micheline Nicole Chiefson is in connection with last weeks death of 38-year-old Christopher Lee Jack of Onigaming First Nation.

His body was found in an apartment on the reserve near Nestor Falls last Wednesday.

Chiefson remains in custody after a court appearance yesterday in Kenora.

Preps For Mill Layoffs Continue

Three groups set up to help mitigate the impact of layoffs at Boise Cascade's International Falls mill will meet next week.

Mayor Bob Anderson says they'll be meeting with a Duluth-based consulting firm.

Anderson says they want individuals on the committees to be empowered to bring forth their ideas for economic development.

Civic leaders and the area's economic development officials won't be attending unless asked.

Councillor Pete Kalar says they will serve as resource people.

The groups were formed to look at business development and retention, worker assistance and strategic planning.

Curling Club Needs Help

The Fort Frances Curling Club is seeking volunteers to help promote tomorrow's vote in the Kraft Celebration Tour.

The Club plans to hand out flyers at Walmart and Canadian Tire today and tomorrow and along Scott Street tomorrow.

Volunteers are also needed to help man voting areas around town for those without computers.

Call the Club or Patrick Briere at 276-2293 if you can help.

Fort Frances Curling Club Hosts Americans

Fort Frances Curling Club photo

There is an important American component to the Fort Frances Curling Club.

It's also home to the International Falls Curling Club.

President Dave Johnson says about 35 Americans curl regularly.

Johnson says they have their own league, host a bonspiel every winter and have used the club to introduce the sport to area students.

Power Outage Planned

A couple of power outages are planned for the Rainy River district next week.

The Fort Frances Power Corporation says lights will be out in Fort Frances Sunday July 28 from 8 a.m. until 12 p.m., allowing Hydro One to perform equipment updates.

A brief outage is also scheduled by Hydro One for areas west of Fort Frances on the same day beginning at 8 a.m.

Toys Part of Kids Camp

Toys will be the focus of a camp coming up in Atikokan next month.

Kids Invent Toys is a four-day event running out of the Atikokan Economic Development Corporation office in conjunction with the Northern Ontario Youth Entrepreneurship Initiative.

Coordinator Andrew Koch says kids will get a chance to learn how toys are developed and marketed.

They will also get an opportunity to take apart toys and build their own.

It's aimed at kids aged 8 to 12 and you can call the Atikokan EDC for to register.

Unsafe Boating Practices Identified

OPP Marine unit is finding some boaters not following the rules.

A number of charges were laid follow checks of boats on Rainy Lake last weekend.

A 29-year-old Alberton township man was charged for not having a fire extinguisher on board.

A 66-year-old man from International Falls was charged after Police watched a boat pull a water tube with two teenagers on board without a spotter in the boat.

A 53 year old White Bear Lake, Minnesota man was charged for not having enough life jackets in his boat.

Two others, a 79 year old man from Oregon and a 56-year-old man from International Falls were charged after Police open liquor was found in their boats.